Standard Threat Classification and Measurement Systems

Transcription

1 CMP The Conservation Measures Partnership Standard Threat Classification and Measurement Systems Nick Salafsky & Dan Salzer Conservation Measures Partnership

2 Conservation At Any Scale Is Ultimately About Threat Reduction Project Teams employ Actions affect Indirect Threats Opportunities drive Direct Threats affect Biodiversity Targets

3 Which Site Is Better Conserved? Site A Site B

4 Which Site Is Better Conserved? Site A Site B

5 Understanding Threats Is Key to All Steps of the CMP Open Standards CMP Open Standards v 2.0

6 Four Key Tasks 1. Defining Threats 2. Classifying Threats 3. Measuring Threats 4. Mapping Threats

7 TASK 1. Defining Threats Measure of Effect (impaired habitat) EPA Risk Assessment Source (livestock grazing) Stressor (sedimentation) Assmnt Endpoint (freshwater stream) TNC 5-S Framework Source of Stress (livestock grazing) Stress (sedimentation) System / Target (freshwater stream) FOS Framework Indirect Threat (grazing policies) Direct Threat (livestock grazing) Target (freshwater stream) WWF RAPPAM Framework Underlying Cause (grazing policies) Pressure / Threat (livestock grazing) State (freshwater stream) Proposed Convention Indirect Threat (grazing policies) Direct Threat (livestock grazing) Stress (sedimentation) Target (freshwater stream) Threats

8 Definition of a Direct Threat Direct Threat The proximate human activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of biodiversity targets. Synonymous with sources of stress or proximate pressures. Threats can be past (historical), ongoing, and/or likely to occur in the future. Natural phenomena are also regarded as direct threats in some situations.

9 TASK 2. Classifying Threats: Nomenclature as the Foundation of Science

10 We Need Standard Terms to Describe Conservation Projects Project Teams employ Actions affect Indirect Threats Opportunities drive Direct Threats affect Biodiversity Targets Cows? Cattle? Livestock? Grazing? Ranching?

11 Two Independent Systems Have Been Unified IUCN Red List Authority Files CMP Taxonomies Unified Global Classifications

12 Criteria for the Ideal System Hierarchical Comprehensive Consistent Expandable Exclusive Scalable

13 Hierarchical Classifications Are Comprehensive at 1 & 2 Levels Level of Classification 1 1. Residential & Commercial Development Definition Threats from human settlements or other nonagricultural land uses with a substantial footprint

14 Hierarchical Classifications Are Comprehensive at 1 & 2 Levels Level of Classification Residential & Commercial Development 1.1 Housing & Urban Areas Definition Threats from human settlements or other nonagricultural land uses with a substantial footprint Human cities, towns, and settlements including nonhousing development typically integrated with housing 1.2 Commercial & Industrial Areas Factories and other commercial centers 1.3 Tourism & Recreation Areas Tourism and recreation sites with a substantial footprint

15 Hierarchical Classifications Are Comprehensive at 1 & 2 Levels Level of Classification Definition Examples 1. Residential & Threats from human settlements or other nonagricultural land uses with a substantial Commercial Development footprint 1.1 Housing & Urban Areas 1.2 Commercial & Industrial Areas 1.3 Tourism & Recreation Areas Human cities, towns, and settlements including nonhousing development typically integrated with housing urban areas, suburbs, villages, vacation homes, shopping areas, offices, schools, hospitals Factories and other commercial centers military bases, factories, shopping centers, office parks, power plants, train & ship yards, airports Tourism and recreation sites with a substantial footprint ski areas, golf courses, resorts, cricket fields, county parks, afghan goat polo fields, campgrounds

16 3 rd Level Classifications Can Be Developed in Context of Hierarchy

17 3 rd Level Classifications Can Be Developed in Context of Hierarchy

18 Level 1 Threat Classifications (We dare you to name a threat that doesn t fit!) 1. Residential & commercial development 2. Agriculture & aquaculture 3. Energy production & mining 4. Transportation & service corridors 5. Biological resource use 6. Human intrusions & disturbance 7. Natural system modifications 8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes 9. Pollution 10. Geological events 11. Climate change & severe weather

19 Reconciling Systems: Need to Compare Apples to Apples IUCN-CMP System Target native bivalve forest ecosystem [State of Target] population size of bivalve ecosystem condition Stress 2.3 indirect species effects: competition 1.2 ecosystem degradation Direct Threat 8.1 invasive non-native/alien species (guidance to record source: shipping) 5.3 logging & wood harvesting Contributing Factor growth in world trade demand for timber CCF System [Target] native bivalve forest ecosystem State of Target population size of bivalve ecosystem condition Level-1 Mechanism direct reduction of survival or fecundity habitat degradation or fragmentation Level-2 Mechanism invasive alien species direct human activities Source transportation & service corridors harvesting wild species Driver growth in world trade demand for timber

20 For More Information: Conservation Biology 22: (2007)

21 For More Information:

22 TASK 3. Measuring Threats: The Ideal System Measurable Based on continuous data or defined categories of impact. Scalable Consistently measure threats at different spatial and temporal scales. Consistent Provide comparable rankings both within one type of threat and (ideally) across different threats. Combinable Designed so that measurements for different threats can be rolled-up to provide an aggregate score for a given conservation area or management unit. Elegant Powerful and yet easy for practitioners to understand and use.

23 Several Different Systems Proposed Birdlife Rating threats to species globally on an absolute scale BSP/WWF/FOS Rating threats to entire project areas on a relative basis WCS Living Landscapes/WWF Rappam Rating threats to entire project areas on absolute scale TNC 5S/CAP Rating threats to stresses & sources of stress for each target on absolute scale TNC Rapid Cap/FOS/Miradi Rating threats for direct threats for each target on absolute scale

24 Characteristics of Different Systems: Application Target by Target To specific species or ecosystems in the project site Entire Project Site To the overall site

25 Characteristics of Different Systems: Criteria SYSTEM CRITERIA Birdlife Scope Severity Timing BSP/WWF Area Intensity Urgency Rapid CAP Miradi Scope Severity Recoverability TNC CAP Scope Severity Contribution Irreversibility WCS Living Landscapes Area Severity Recovery Time Proba bility Urgency WWF RAPPAM Extent Impact Permanence Proba bility Trend

26 Characteristics of Different Systems: Potential Criteria Assessments Cardinal Continuous measurements Number of hectares Continuous percentages % of target area Categorical percentages > 75%, 50-75%, 25-50%, < 25% Qualitative categories all, most, some, little Ordinal Relative ratings Highest 2 nd highest 3 rd highest etc.

27 Characteristics of Different Systems: Scale and Timeframe of Assessments Scale Ratings range from 3 5 pt scales (eg very high, high, medium, low) Timeframe Some systems build in time (eg 10-year timeframe)

28 Characteristics of Different Systems: Combinations of Criteria Arithmetic Threat Scope (1-4) Severity (1-4) Additive Multiply Average Logging (1 st ) 12 (1 st ) 3.5 (1 st ) Grazing (3 rd ) 2 (3 rd ) 1.5 (3 rd ) Hunting (2 nd ) 4 (2 nd ) 2.5 (2 nd ) Rule-Based

29 Key Research Questions How do these threat rating systems compare with one another? Are certain systems better for certain conditions? Can we design a system that best fulfills the criteria for the ideal system?

30 The Miradi Simple Threat Rating System

31 The Miradi Simple Threat Rating System

32 The Miradi Simple Threat Rating System

33 Anonymous Example of Threat Rating System

34 TASK 4. Mapping Threats: The Next Frontier Grazing Threats Portfolio Sites N W S E Miles

35 Four Key Tasks 1. Defining Threats 2. Classifying Threats 3. Measuring Threats 4. Mapping Threats

36 For More Info or for a Free Trial of Miradi TM Free Trial Adaptive Management Software for Conservation Projects or info@miradi.org